Wondering where the Medal of Honor came from and who can earn it? Medal of Honor history began in the Civil War, with a Navy version approved by President Lincoln on December 21, 1861.
This guide is part of the site’s coverage of military and veterans, where the Medal of Honor stands at the top of a pyramid of awards.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Navy version approved by President Lincoln | December 21, 1861 |
| Medals awarded during the Civil War | 1,520 Medals |
| Medals for gallantry at Antietam | 20 men |
| Names stricken by the 1916 board | 911 names |
| Medals awarded since inception | Over 3500 Medals |
| Eyewitnesses required for the act of bravery | At least 2 eyewitnesses |
These figures come from the National Park Service page on the Medal of Honor, last updated June 13, 2024. Counts and rules can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
How the Medal of Honor began in the Civil War
The Navy version was the first to be approved, by President Lincoln on December 21, 1861. At that time it was the first and only decoration formally authorized by the American Government to be worn as a badge of honor, according to the National Park Service.
The Army’s version was approved the next year for enlisted men. It was then amended to include officers who “shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other soldier-like qualities.”
A total of 1,520 Medals were awarded during the Civil War. At Antietam, twenty men received Medals, and eight of those twenty were honored for either capturing or saving flags.
Because the Army’s version covered both enlisted men and officers, the difference between those groups matters here, and military ranks explained walks through how they are organized.
Why a board struck 911 names in 1916
In 1916 a board of five retired General Officers was appointed to investigate the validity of all the Medals that had been awarded. The board struck 911 names from the list, most of them from the Civil War, as the National Park Service notes.
The majority of those names belonged to the 27th Maine Infantry. In June of 1863, which the Park Service calls a critical time of the war, those men received Medals of Honor just for re-enlisting.
That episode shows how loose the early rules could be. The standards to receive the Medal have changed over the years, and the 1916 review is one of the clearest moments in that change.
Mary Edwards Walker and the Medal of Honor
As of the National Park Service page updated June 13, 2024, the only woman to be awarded the Medal of Honor was Mary Edwards Walker. Her path to the award, as the Park Service tells it, looked like this:
- She was born in New York and graduated from Syracuse Medical College in 1855.
- When the Civil War broke out, the Union army would not hire women doctors, so she volunteered as a nurse in Washington D.C.’s Patent Office Hospital.
- She was later contracted as an assistant surgeon with the 52nd Ohio Infantry, the first woman to serve with the Army Medical Corps.
- In 1864 she was captured and spent four months in a Confederate prison.
- She was awarded the Medal in 1866, but the 1916 Board removed it.
- In 1977, President Jimmy Carter restored her award, which is now on display in the Pentagon.
What are the criteria for the Medal of Honor today?
Over 3500 Medals of Honor have been awarded since its inception during the American Civil War, according to the National Park Service. As of that page’s June 13, 2024 update, the criteria say an individual must be in combat as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States.
The act of bravery must meet each of these tests:
- It is proved by incontestable evidence of at least two eyewitnesses.
- It clearly distinguishes gallantry beyond the call of duty.
- It involves the risk of life.
Because the Medal goes to members of the Armed Forces, it helps to know how the services fit together, and us military branches explained covers that.
What about the Confederates?
The Confederate government, seeking to increase morale and recognize its soldiers, authorized its own medals and badges. These were not the Medal of Honor, and the National Park Service describes two paths:
- Officers could be recognized if they were “conspicuous for courage and good conduct on the field of battle.”
- One enlisted soldier per regiment could be recognized after each victory, chosen by a vote among the regiment.
When appropriate medals could not be supplied, the Confederate Congress authorized the Roll of Honor in October of 1862. It covered all ranks and was to be handled in three ways:
- Preserved in the office of the Adjutant and Inspector General.
- Read at the head of every regiment at the first dress-parade after its receipt.
- Published in at least one newspaper from each state.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Medal of Honor first approved?
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The sea service went first: Lincoln signed off on its decoration late in 1861. The soldiers’ version followed in the year after, according to the National Park Service.
Has a woman ever received the Medal of Honor?
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As of the National Park Service page updated June 13, 2024, Mary Edwards Walker is the only woman to be awarded it. She received it in 1866, lost it to the 1916 Board, and had it restored in 1977.
How many Medals of Honor have been awarded?
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The Park Service says over 3500 have been awarded since the Medal began in the Civil War. Of those, 1,520 were awarded during the Civil War itself.
What must a recipient have done?
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The person must have been in combat as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States. The act must be proved by at least two eyewitnesses, clearly show gallantry beyond the call of duty, and involve the risk of life.
